Old Fashioned Rock Candy Recipes

Steps:

• In a medium-size heavy saucepan combine sugar, water, light corn syrup and salt, and Stir until sugar dissolves.
• Cover pan and bring to a rolling boil.
• Remove lid and insert a candy thermomater and cook until temperature reaches 250 degrees F.
• Add food coloring, stirring with metal spoon until thoroughly mixed.
• Continue cooking until the temperature reaches hard crack, or 300 degrees F.
• Remove pan from heat and let it cool about 3 minutes, then add flavoring oil, and mix it very well.
• Cover the pan and let it sit for about 5 minutes.
• Pour the candy into greased molds (for lollypops) or a marble slab or into a greased shallow pan.
• As soon as it is cool enough to handle, cut into squares with scissors or roll into balls or shapes.
• Or, another option is to let the candy cool completely, then break the candy into bite-sized pieces with a cleaned hammer or the blunt end of a butter knife.

Steps:

• Prepare your candy growing area by thoroughly cleaning and drying a 2 quart jar. You will need a place for it to rest undisturbed for about 2 weeks.
• In a large bowl, place the water. Dissolve sugar in water, a little at a time, stirring each time until sugar is completely dissolved, until no more sugar can be incorporated. Pour sugar water into clean jar and place a bamboo skewer in the jar, being sure the top sticks out over the surface of the water. Cover with a cloth, to keep out dust, and let rest until all water is evaporated and crystals have formed on the skewer, several days.
• NOTE: For larger crystals, try "seeding" them, by wetting your skewer and rolling it in sugar before placing it in the sugar water. Be sure not to disturb the crystals as they are growing.

Steps:

• Line a 15x10x1-in. pan with foil; butter the foil and set aside. In a large heavy saucepan, combine water, sugar, corn syrup and food coloring. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Cover and cook for 3 minutes to dissolve sugar crystals. , Uncover; cook on medium-high heat, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reads 300° (hard-crack stage), about 25 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in cinnamon oil (keep face away from mixture as oil is very strong). Immediately pour onto prepared pan. Cool completely, about 45 minutes. , Break the candy into pieces using the edge of a metal mallet. Sprinkle both sides of candy with confectioners' sugar. Store in airtight container.